Hemingway Lake
Lapeer County, Michigan65 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #4 of 4 in the county
- Limited data
Hemingway Lake in Lapeer County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Surface area: 65 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Area
- 65 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
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Stays near Hemingway Lake
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Watch Hemingway Lake’s letter
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Hemingway Lake is a 65-acre mesotrophic lake in Lapeer County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Lapeer County, Hemingway Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Hemingway Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Hemingway Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.9 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hemingway Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hemingway Lake Dam (completed 1912), built primarily for recreation on the Hemmingway and Wipple Drain; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 65 ac
- Normal storage
- 700 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 875 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Hemingway Lake Home Owners Assn
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00294 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hemingway Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Columbiaville WwslColumbiaville · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MI0054810Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Lapeer County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hemingway Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Lapeer County
Frequently asked questions about Hemingway Lake
Where is Hemingway Lake?
- Hemingway Lake is a lake in Lapeer County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Hemingway Lake?
- Hemingway Lake in Lapeer County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Surface area: 65 acres.
Is Hemingway Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Hemingway Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS23 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)